The Lowdown

In the heart of Le Marais, this legendary former nightclub was reborn as a boutique hotel thanks to the work of architect Vincent Bastie and of-the-moment designers Tristan Auer and Denis Montel. The space’s rock-n-roll legacy lives on in the red lacquer pillars, the distressed leather sofas, and the Philippe Starck-designed mosaic dance floor, while the stained glass windows of the Salon Chinois and curved, bulbous ceiling of the bar recall the years when it was a playground for bohemians. Today, the 39 rooms are almost unbearably chic, with rust-colored velvet sofas inspired by Warhol, plenty of shelves (stocked with the occasional Joy Division record), and robin’s egg blue telephones. Bathrooms all have heated floors—welcome during those chilly Paris winters—while the upper suites feature private steam rooms and terraces with outdoor showers. No less now than in the 1980s (or 1880s), this is a spot to see and be seen, so it’s fitting that the bar, restaurant, and club all still draw a fashionable crowd.

In the Area

Les Bains is just one in a clutch of glorious 17th-century buildings on a romantic street in one of Paris’s most aristocratic old districts where many of the most popular sights are a short walk away: the ancient and beautiful public square Place des Vosges, the Temple du Marais church, and the Place de la Bastille, where the prison once stood. The hotel has its own art collection, but it’s also close to some of the city’s best museums, most notably the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Picasso. Le Marais was the city’s Jewish quarter, so head to the Rue de Rosiers for some authentic Jewish food, and then to the Rue Vieille du Temple, chockablock with trendy cocktail bars and gay clubs. The nearest subway stop, Étienne Marcel, is a three-minute walk away.